- The NYC Council’s Land Use and Zoning Committees approved the Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan, the city’s largest residential rezoning in two decades. It aims for 9,700 new homes, with more than 2,800 permanently affordable units.
- The plan will bring Mandatory Inclusionary Housing to Midtown South for the first time. It also includes $488M in infrastructure upgrades, such as transit improvements, tree plantings, and school and hospital revitalizations.
- The rezoning still requires a final full council vote. It comes amid a surge of other major housing projects in Manhattan.
According to Globe St, New York City is moving ahead with its biggest housing rezoning in 20 years. The Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan—recently approved by the City Council’s Land Use and Zoning Committees—would add nearly 9,700 homes to Manhattan. More than 2,800 units will be permanently affordable.
Historic Milestone
Council Speaker Adrienne Adams called the rezoning the largest in two decades. For the first time, Midtown South will follow the city’s Mandatory Inclusionary Housing rules. This will ensure that every new development includes a share of permanently affordable units.
What’s In The Plan
The proposal commits $488M to improve the neighborhood. Funds will go toward new trees, upgraded lighting, and subway renovations. The plan also calls for a car-free busway and upgrades to schools and hospitals. According to Mayor Eric Adams, the rezoning is part of his vision to create 100,000 new homes across Manhattan in the next decade.
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Next Steps
The plan must still pass a full City Council vote before moving forward. No date for the vote has been announced. Once approved, it could become one of the largest housing expansions in New York City history.
A Building Boom Context
Other large-scale projects are already reshaping Manhattan.
- Hudson Yards West – Phase Two: 4,000 homes planned by Related Companies, with at least 625 affordable units.
- 5 Times Square Conversion: Skyscraper to be redeveloped into 1,250 apartments, including 313 affordable units.
- Former Pfizer HQ Redevelopment: Plans for 1,602 apartments, with 25% reserved as affordable housing.
Why It Matters
This rezoning highlights New York’s push to address its housing shortage with large-scale, mixed-use developments. Affordability requirements are now part of the equation—something Midtown South has never seen before.
